Iowa - Protections for Elections Flyer

1865

Law Enacted

$250K

Max Fine

5 YRS

Prison

ZERO

Exceptions

The Federal Law

Since 1865, federal law has banned armed federal personnel at polling places. In 1909, Congress deliberately removed the only exception — there is no law enforcement justification for armed feds at the polls. Not for "keeping the peace." Not for preventing fraud. Nothing.

18 U.S.C. § 592 — TROOPS AT POLLS

Any federal employee who stations armed personnel at a polling place commits a felony and is permanently barred from federal service. The DOJ's own manual says FBI agents cannot be stationed at polls.

5 YEARS PRISON $250,000 FINE CAREER DEATH

Iowa Legal Landscape

Home Rule

Article III, Section 38A of the Iowa Constitution (1968 Home Rule Amendment) grants municipal corporations "home rule...

Key Advantage

Iowa has strong constitutional home rule that explicitly repudiates Dillon's Rule, with Article III, Section 38A declaring "the rule or proposition of law that a municipal corpo...

Key Risk

Iowa has strong constitutional home rule that explicitly repudiates Dillon's Rule, with Article III, Section 38A declaring "the rule or proposition of law that a municipal corpo...

Best Framing

I, Section 1 (providing for "pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness") strengthen the argument that cities have authority to protect voters' safety and right to vote free fr...

Anti-Sanctuary Law

⚠ Iowa Code Chapter 27A (2018) — the anti-sanctuary statute — is the most dangerous analog.

Target Cities in Iowa

Johnson County (Iowa City)

See state guide

is the highest. -probability county target.

What You Can Do Right Now

Contact Call your city council member. Ask them to introduce a Protections for Elections ordinance.

Show Up Attend your next council meeting. 3 minutes of public comment changes priorities.

Connect Join a local organization already working on voting rights in Iowa.

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Get Connected → ACLU of IowaLWV IowaIowa Migrant Movement for Justic...States United Democracy CenterBrennan Center for Justice